Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE IN CONNECTICUT
Madison was already running toward the elevator.
Sophie followed.
Daniel blocked the doors.
“Police first.”
“That’s my mother!”
“And if Victor is there, you walking into that house alone helps nobody.”
Madison’s hands shook.
“Move.”
“No.”
She shoved him.
He didn’t move.
Sophie grabbed Madison by the shoulders.
“Listen to me.”
“Don’t touch me.”
“You want to help your mother?”
“Yes!”
“Then stop acting like panic is a plan.”
Madison stared at her.
A few hours earlier, Sophie would have been the last person Madison would ever listen to.
Now she nodded.
Barely.
Daniel called police in Connecticut.
Sophie called corporate security.
Twenty-eight minutes later, they were in an SUV heading north.
Rain hammered the windshield.
Madison sat in the back, calling her mother every sixty seconds.
No answer.
Sophie sat beside her.
Madison suddenly said, “Why are you helping me?”
Sophie looked out the window.
“I’m helping your mother.”
“Fair.”
Another minute passed.
Then Madison whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Sophie turned.
Madison stared at her phone.
“For tonight.”
“That’s vague.”
Madison nodded.
“For the champagne. The comments. The way I looked at you.”
Sophie said nothing.
Madison’s voice cracked.
“I thought I knew what important people looked like.”
“That was your first mistake.”
“I know.”
“No. Your first mistake was thinking unimportant people existed.”
Madison looked at her.
That landed.
Hard.
Forty-five minutes later, they reached the Vale estate.
Police cars were already outside.
The front door stood open.
Madison jumped from the SUV.
“Mom!”
An officer stopped her.
“Ma’am.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s alive.”
Madison nearly collapsed.
Her mother, Elaine Vale, sat inside an ambulance with a blanket around her shoulders.
Madison ran to her.
Elaine held her tightly.
Sophie stayed back.
Then Elaine saw her.
“You’re Charles’s daughter.”
Sophie nodded.
Elaine began crying again.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For staying quiet.”
Sophie walked closer.
“Where is Victor?”
Elaine looked toward the house.
“He left before police arrived.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No.”
“Why did he come?”
“To get something.”
“What?”
Elaine stared at Sophie.
“Your father’s original files.”
Sophie’s pulse jumped.
“You have them?”
Elaine nodded.
“Charles gave them to me fourteen years ago.”
“Why?”
“He knew Victor controlled too many people. He said if anything happened to him, somebody outside Sterling Crown needed proof.”
“Where are the files?”
Elaine looked toward the house again.
“In the basement safe.”
Madison exhaled.
“Did Dad get them?”
Elaine shook her head.
“No.”
Sophie felt the first hint of relief all night.
Then Elaine added, “Because I moved them yesterday.”
Everyone froze.
“Where?”
Elaine looked directly at Sophie.
“I mailed them to you.”
Sophie’s phone buzzed.
A notification from Sterling Crown Tower.
PACKAGE DELIVERED — EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
Time: 10:03 p.m.
May you like
The package had been sitting inside Sophie’s office for more than two hours.
And Victor Vale knew exactly where it was.
